Otty Lake Association

Welcome to the OLA Website

Causeway on Southwest Shore

This construction is still a major concern for the OLA and more specifically, a number of our members located on the south west shore.  The OLA shares its members’ concerns, noting that, since the causeway may impact fish habitat, displace species at risk, and permanently block a heretofore navigable water course, remediation may be required.  The OLA has been working closely with our key partners, namely the RVCA and Tay Valley Township (TVT), and continues to monitor developments in the application process.

Shoal Marker Notice

After a successful first season, removal of the OLA shoal markers (or "minions") has begun.  OLA volunteers are targetting to have all markers removed by Thanksgiving. As always, we thank our awesome volunteers for their great work and for keeping boaters safer.

Kairos Blanket Exercise August 20, 2022

A great turnout of Otty Lake residents partiicipated in an interactive Kairos Blanket Exercise, led by elder Tina Vincent, to learn more about the history and current reality of Indigenous People in Canada. The event took place at the Gibb-Carsley cottage, Miller Bay Road, with a potluck lunch afterwards. The event was organized by the OLA Reconciliation Working Group.

Paddle Power 2022

Over 50 canoes, kayaks and stand-up paddle boards gathered near Buck, Ruby and Clegg Islands on Sunday, August 21. Be sure to join in on Aug. 20, 2023, which will be the 10th anniversary of this popular Otty Lake social event.

Read Our July Newsletter

We're trying a new format for our July newsletter. Let us know how it works for you! Lots has been going on this summer - we still have Paddle Power and the Blanket Exercise to come.

OLA Nature Floatilla July 16 , 2022

Our first Nature Floatilla was a great success. About 100 residents traveled by kayak, canoe or powerboat to the five sites where experts were stationed to share their knowledge about snakes, turtles, fish, birds and ticks. Thanks to Maple Glen for sharing their waterfront for one of the nature sations as well as the picnic that followed.

 

New Shoal Marking Program

Thirteen “high priority” shoals on Otty Lake have now been marked with Transport Canada approved buoys and in accordance with Transport Canada guidelines.  Installation was started on the Victoria Day Weekend, and they will be removed at the end of the season. A number of residents have volunteered to “adopt” a shoal:  install the buoy on “their” shoal in the Spring, remove it in the Fall, and monitor it on a periodic basis.  Email ola@ottylakeassociation.ca for more details or if you'd like to help. 

The OLA Board and 2022 AGM

There are still two openings on the OLA Board, as two members are not renewing their terms. Thanks to Kyla Haley and Rachel Roth for their many contributions. Cathy Kari was elected to another two year term, and the remaining members are partway through their two year terms. If you are interested in joining the Board, it is not too late! Just contact Kirsten or Reid for details.

Kirsten Brouse - President	Members at Large:
Keith Desjardins - Vice President	Robert Cosh
Jenn O'Donoghue - Treasurer	Anne Scotton
Linda Cuthbertson - Recording Secretary	Cathy Kari
Barb Hicks - Communications Secretary
David and Susan Murray - Membership	your name here
Reid Kilburn - Past President	or here!
Kevin Terrion - Lake Steward

Summer Information Package

Please take at look at our 2022 Summer Information Package for important information on the OLA , water safety, fire safety and the environment.  Your Area Counsellors will be in touch with you within the next few weeks to answer any questions and relay any concerns. They will also make sure each membership household receives an OLA  FOX40 whistle. If you have not paid your 2022 membership fees, you may do so by interac e-transfer or give a cheque to your Area Counsellor.  See the  membership page for details.

Household Hazardous Waste Depots Opening May 21, 2022

These depots accept residential HHW only.  Please be prepared to show proof of residency.

Tay Valley Residents:  Use the Middleville Hazardous Waste Depot, 4686 Wolf Grove Road, Lanark. Hours are Saturdays 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. from Victoria Day Weekend until Thanksgiving Weekend. See TVT's Household Hazardous Waste page.

Drummond / North Elmsley Residents:  Use the Carleton Place Hazardous Waste Depot at 128 Patterson Crescent, Carleton Place.  It is open Saturdays 8 a.m. until 12 noon from May 21 to September 3.  Consult their brochure.

Reconciliation Working Group

The new Reconciliation Working Group is educating themselves on indigenous issues and indigenous peoples who live in the Otty Lake region. Victoria Gibb-Carsley and Michael Desautels presented this timeline at their second meeting. It was an eye-opener to many; it is shared here. Email editor@ottylakeassociation.ca if you would like to know more.

Spongy Moth (formerly LDD/Gypsy Moth)

Slides from the Friends of the Tay (FoTW) February 24 Zoom presentation are available. See Eric Boysen's presentation on the "What's New" page of the FoTW website.

The OLA has also assembled some resources to help you identify, respond and manage spongy moth outbreaks. 

Otty Lake Clothing

A selection of Otty Lake clothing items displaying your choice of the Otty Lake or OLA logo are available : T-shirts, golf-shirts, crew neck sweatshirts, pullover hoodies, zippered hoodies and ball caps. Thanks to Liz Lightford who has volunteered to coordinate the sales. Each item is made to order by Elite Engraving in Perth.

Contribute Your Observations to iNaturalist

Discover and track the species that make their home in and around Otty Lake. We invite you to help us create an ongoing catalog of the wildlife for the area. This library will help us gain insight into the distribution and seasonality of the organisms in our region. It will help the scientific community through records of wildlife movements, invasive species, species at risk as well as sharing observations among friends. Visit the website or download the app. 

New Online Registration
for Open Air Burn Permits

A permit is required for all open air burning. Residents who registered for a permit prior to June 1, 2021 have until November 30, 2021 to re-apply.

Complete your permit application online at dnetv.burnpermits.com or call 613-267-2596. Permits are free. If you are a tenant, permission from the property owner must be obtained.

UpTICK on Ticks and Lyme Disease in Eastern Ontario

Listen to the recording of June 8, 2021 webinar with Dr. Andrew Peregrine, Associate Professor at the Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph presented by Friends of the Napanee River and Friends of the Salmon River.

Etransfer Your OLA Membership Fees

The OLA Board hopes you and your families are staying healthy during these unusual times.  

In order to continue the work and education around the lake, we do rely on your membership dues. Please consider  paying your $25 dues by e-transfer to financial@ottylakeassociation.ca  The security question to input is "province we live in", and the answer is "Ontario". Please include some identifying details in the message, such as your address, or if you are a couple, both of your names. We have had a few submissions we have struggled to identify!

if you prefer, you can mail a cheque made out to the Otty Lake Association for $25 to Otty Lake Association, Box 20122, Perth, ON K7H 3M6.
 

Updated Lake Map Here

A new map of Otty Lake has been made available to residents and cottagers. This is an update of the 18" x 24" map produced in 2010. More islands and bays have been named, shoals indicated, and the 30 m. reduced speed zone marked to encourage safe boating. Maps were made available to paid up members, with additional copies available for $5.00 each.

Crown Island Use

Twenty of the 31 islands in Otty Lake are considered "Crown land". They are owned by the provincial government and managed by Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR). The public is free to use them, but camping is not permitted on islands smaller than 200 feet across.

Lake Protection is Everyone's Responsibility

The “Lake Protection Workbook: A Self-Assessment Tool for Shoreline Property Owners” is designed for you to self-assess whether activities and uses on your property are protecting Otty Lake. Your property is important to the overall health of our lake - every action matters. For a printed copy of this workbook, contact christine.k@bell.net.   

Ticks and Lyme Disease:

This presentation by the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit was given to the Lake Networking Group in mid April 2018.

 

Tips for high risk areas from the Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation.

 

What what you need to know about tick removal, how to recognize the Lyme Disease rash, and how Lyme disease is diagnosed.    

Black Bears around Otty Lake

Bears Bears are frequently seen in the Otty Lake watershed, and can peacefully coexist with residents.   Educate yourself on their behaviour in case you encounter one.  Bears are attracted to food of any kind, so be careful how you deal with garbage, fruit trees, barbeques and bird feeders. Generally, bears want to avoid humans. Most encounters are not aggressive and attacks are rare.

Emergency: Call 911.

If people, pets or livestock are in immediate danger.

Non Emergency: Call 1-866-514-2327

The Bear Wise reporting line (between April 1 and November 30). A bear passing by, in a tree, breaking into garbage, emptying bird feeders etc.

From Dec 1 to March 31, contact your local MNRF District office. The Kemptville office is (613) 258-8204.

 

 

 

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